Subscribe to Candid Magazine

Romance Is In The Air At CastaDiva Resort And Spa, Lago di Como

Casta diva is a famous aria from the opera Norma by Bellini and memorably sung by the great Maria Callas. I had a similarly entrancing sensation as the private limousine drove into the exclusive grounds of the CastaDiva resort in Lago di Como. This is one of the most romantic escapes you will discover in the world and it is hardly surprising that celebrities and the public alike flock to this magical part of Italy throughout most of the year.

The 5-star luxury experience par excellence began with the picturesque views of the lake. Whether you are in the reception balcony area, the restaurant or your bedroom, the jaw-dropping views demand attention. It’s the kind of scenery that would turn inept simpletons into creative painters.

CastaDiva oozes luxury with 58 of the 73 rooms being suites or junior suites. The estate is composed of a series of stunning villas; we stayed in the main building of Villa Roccabruna. The split-level room with direct front-facing views of the lake was heavenly bliss with the spacious sitting room containing contemporary gold and platinum coloured furniture and a separate bathroom. The first-floor bedroom had a luxurious super king-sized bed and one of the most spacious bathrooms you will have ever seen. Security and privacy are of the utmost importance to their hotel guests, hence they provide individual password-secured high-speed wifi for each room and complete soundproofing for all their rooms.

You can celebrate flavours of the Mediterranean at their main restaurant, L’Orangerie. A candlelit dinner, sampling their gourmet menu with views of the lake is one of the greatest joys of visiting this area. The inventive nature of their chef is all too apparent when our starters arrived with raw marinated scallops mixed with indulgent, rich tasting sea urchin and wild olive essence. My vegetarian guest enjoyed a rather unusual combination of barley soup mixed with beans and coffee.

The main course of risotto with chards, lemon and white truffle was elegant and citrusy and the lemon helped to make the dish feel less “heavy” than typical risotto dishes. Tuscan black suckling pig was firm and succulent tasting although I almost expected a crackling to come with the dish but it was suitably paired with white truffle, quail egg, leeks and mushroom.

We finished off by sharing a delicately constructed semolina cooked in milk with date and persimmon cream. It wasn’t overly sweet but retained the honey flavours from the persimmon.

The CastaDiva spa is an oasis of delight for those who love being pampered. Over an area of 1.300 sq.mt, it is one of the largest in Como and contain a sauna, steam bath, Mediterranean bath, relaxation pool with side jest, vitality pool with hydromassage and chromotherapy, Kneipp circuit, balancing Himalayan rose salt room, refreshing ice cascade, emotional showers with peppermint and exotic fragrances, Darsena relax area and an original century dock suspended on the lake. There is also an outdoor floating heated pool suspended on the lake which is equipped with a light and sound extravaganza show in the evenings.

We relaxed in one of their tranquil SPA suites to enjoy a 50 minutes CastaDiva tailored touch massage. Using essential oils, the therapist was extremely attentive and discussed with us closely what areas needed more attention, the amount of pressure preferred.

The hotel is only a short 20-minute drive to old Como town and the hotel provide complimentary shuttle buses for those keen to explore this historic part of the lake. It is a must visit with their quaint, cobbled streets filled with independent, boutique shops and their awe-inspiring cathedral. Time permitting, you should take a ride on the funicular which takes you up to Brunate which offers a splendid view of the town and on a clear day, you can even see the outskirts of Milan.

If you are thinking of compiling your bucket list of hotels and towns to visit, make sure you include CastaDiva and Como old town.